E. Rosemary Wilcox

E. Rosemary Wilcox, 94, of Galesburg, died at 5:37 p.m. Thursday, November 17, 2016 in Galesburg Cottage Hospital.

She was born February 5, 1922, in Galesburg, the daughter of Hilmar E. and Vida Emerald (Crickenberger) Voigt. She married Doyle Keith “D.K.” Wilcox on June 10, 1950, in Wonder Lake, Illinois. He preceded her in death September 6, 1994.

She is survived by two sons, Christopher “Kit” (and Pam) Wilcox of Galesburg and Curtis E. (and Kelly) Wilcox of Crossroads, Texas; five grandchildren, Camille (and Jeremy) Howard, C.C. (and Rita) Wilcox, Morgan (and Matt) Tiller, Haley Wilcox, and Lindsey Wilcox; and five great grandchildren, Elizabeth, Mackenzie, Isabelle, Vida, and Sydney. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Doyle Keith “Deke” Wilcox on May 28, 2015; two brothers, C. Max Voigt and Ronald H. Voigt; and a sister, Aurora Evelyn Dehnert.

Rosemary graduated from Galesburg High School and Brown’s Business College. She and her husband, “D.K.”, owned the Coca Cola Bottling plant in Galesburg for many years. She was a life-long member of First United Methodist Church in Galesburg, singing in the choir for many years.

Rosemary exemplified a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was a nurturing supporter of all her family, friends, and pets.

Rosemary was a homemaker and mother for her three sons, who were her life. Before marrying “late in life” at age 28 in 1950, she was a “working woman” who enjoyed working as an executive secretary to one of the principals at the tie plant in Galesburg, the Mayo General Hospital, a Vice President of Household Finance in Chicago, Illinois, and at the Galesburg First National Bank. Later, when the boys were out of school, she also worked in retail sales at children’s clothing stores and gift shops for many years. She enjoyed sending birthday and holiday cards to all of her friends and family though out her life. She was a perfectionist, an avid reader, a lover of animals, wonderful cook, could grow and maintain any vegetation, and could find a cure for any ailment known to man.

But most of all she loved her three sons, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren. She was above all things, a loving mother and devoted friend.